When Akon jumped inside a huge inflatable bubble-type ball and crowd surfed at a recent African concert, it seemed an ingenious idea to avoid injury and be creative.

But the singer has been slammed by internet users for going to unnecessary lengths to avoid catching the deadly virus Ebola.

The star was snapped smiling and waving to his fans from the see-through ball at his concert in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on Sunday - and appeared totally at ease with the set up.

However news website The Source claimed it was actually a way for him to avoid catching Ebola from the huge crowd.

"The Ebola virus is no joke," the website said. "And to avoid contracting it from anybody, when Akon left the stage to crowd surf with the people that were attending his concert, he did so in a huge plastic protective bubble."

(Image: AFP/Getty)

Woah.

But, according to Mail Online, Akon has used the exact same ball in previous concerts - signalling it was not specific for that one.

He reportedly told the crowd: "As Akon, I see myself as a child of Africa."

We have contacted Akon's rep for comment.

Akon recently added a photo as he met a group of African children, and wrote: "The future of Africa is in our hands. Follow my brother from another mother, one of my African ambassadors from Cameroon @tmah_konvict as he helps Educate our kids in Africa."

The deadly virus has killed more than 3,000 people so far in the current outbreak, with 42 of those living in the DR Congo in the last six months ago.